I'm writing this post to help anyone thinking of taking on similar ultra endurance challenges who are thinking they'll need additional support and what I felt I needed (and got) from my crew. In short, someone to crew for you helps. It helps a lot. My crew for the 100k consisted of one man. My best friend Graham. This is as much a homage to a great man as it is to how a great crew need to show-up for you when you need it most. If you've followed my posts from the beginning, you'll recognize he's been with me on this journey since the start. In fact it was his walking 100km that inspired me to attempt the same. After that I was inspired to push myself further and attempt running ultra's. My point is that he knows what's involved in these kinds of challenges, and the demands it puts on you both in the lead up, and during, the event. This helps hugely. For those who might not have someone with experience of what these events are like, you need to choose someone who is:
Patient & supportive - You will have low points, and be short tempered when tired. You might say the wrong thing or act pissed off because you feel like shit. You need Graham who will take this in their stride and understands you are suffering, not taking anything personally.
Thick skinned & Flexible - Graham lets things roll off their back. Circumstances change, weather changes, plans change, shit goes wrong, rest stop workers might get snappy with them. It needs to roll off them like water off a duck's back
Organised - A Graham has an awful lot to think about. Kit, food, electrolytes, rehab-on-the-trail, getting between stops, how to keep/get you warm, how to cool you down or dry you out, getting into stops, their own food and rest, keep you moving, watching your time in rest stops, watching your pace against your race plan. Organisation skills are critical on an event that lasts 18 hours or longer. There is A LOT to get through, get organised at different stops and for themselves. They need to rest, to travel, to find stops, to get kit/food, to hold you accountable to time and pace, to adapt to changing weather/temperatures, and differing surfaces you are running/walking on.
Committed - Being Graham requires discipline and commitment. Over 24hrs they'll get tired, they may get bored at times as well. A Graham has to set out with their own mission which is to see you through the entire route and over the finish line in the best shape they can. And do this while staying high energy, disciplined and organised. This needs to be their challenge and mission as much as yours. I was lucky enough to have Graham make it so for my event. His role and importance cannot be overstated. As a challenger you need to respect and be grateful for their commitment to support you. A great Graham is there for you and puts you first. They commit to this and you need to commit to some gratitude for their self sacrifice. This will make it work beautifully.
Selfless - A great Graham is selfless. They put you first in order to enable you to achieve what you set out to do. To help you get what you want. While they must take care of themselves, they will support you to the end. Remember they want this for YOU. It's a difficult job with many moving parts to organise. You need them to be there for you with the right food, gels, fuel, electrolytes, kits etc. If they aren't then your entire challenge is at risk. All of those hard months of training, pain, frustration and sacrifice can be put at jeopardy right at the final hurdle if you choose the wrong support. My Graham offered to do this for me, and assured me he would move heaven and earth to get me over the finish line. I trusted him to do so and he was true to his word. Crewing can be very demanding and you MUST trust that the person who offers is up to the task and will always follow through.
Positive & energetic - Energy is infectious and a Graham needs to be positive at all times. You will feel low, doubtful, in significant pain, tired, hurt, hangry, sick doubtful at different points. Graham's positivity will bolster you and give you strength. They need to be able to assure you that you do indeed have this and give great advice at the right time... such as it's ok to hurt, you'll get through it, you've got this, speed up, slow down, get up, sit down, stretch off, eat now, eat more, etc. It can't be all Tony Robbins whoo-whoo cheerleading though. Just conviction and vocal support that you can keep pushing on and that you will get through it.
Direct talking - Graham needs to be honest and direct. Mine was. There was a point where i had to make a decision... push harder to come in under 24hrs and risk breaking down in worsening conditions, or keep pace and guarantee the finish. We talked it through, given the injury to my heel I was carrying, and agreed the finish in a sensible time was the most important thing. He told me straight when it was the right time and I agreed. He also gave me very strict orders to go off slow for the first 5km and to avoid running until I was on the first climb summit. This worked and I was grateful for his input. He knows I can get excited and want to smash through things. It's as if he knows that someone who signs up to run a hundred or 300k is impulsive, or something! ;-)
Someone you respect deeply - You have to pick your Graham based on your respect for them. I respect mine immensely. You need to listen to them and take their lead. Even more so when you are unable to think clearly through pain and fatigue. You can make poor choices. Sit for too long at a stop, not check your feet because you're tired. Not eat because you feel nauseous. When they speak and tell you to stand up and keep moving, drink that coke, eat that wrap, you must respect that person and listen to them. Your thinking will be like mush 50-60K in. Theirs will be clear and on-plan. They will hold you accountable to what you agreed and you will listen and respect them for it.
For me, Graham was all of these and so much more. This achievement was his as well as mine. He kept me utterly focused on the task at hand and was flexible throughout. His roadside pop up before I hit the nasty up/down stretch was inspired and exactly what I needed to do a quick ankle repair and shot of flat Coke before I took on the hardest part of the course. This role is pivotal in an ultra should you choose to have Crew. You need a Graham. It's entirely different to a road marathon. It's more than handing a bottle of water and a gel to the challenger. 100K+ Ultra's are a different universe. They are long, they are remote, they have huge variations in terrain, weather, temperature and times of day/night. Injuries, gastric distress, dehydration, etc and these are magnified exponentially in long trail ultras. They are an insane challenge for most people. Graham's role as my crew was of huge importance and value to what I did. He executed his role perfectly, which allowed me to go about executing mine to the best of my ability. Key tasks for an awesome Graham:
Planning with you from the start
Travel/Logistics/Event logistics
Keeping great time and pace
Keeping you moving through rest stops quickly
In control and vocal at the right times.
Stay switched on with time. It's easy to shut eyes in the middle of the night and oversleep if you are not setting alarms, etc to be in the right place at the right time.
Able to assist running repairs to your body (blisters, strains, pains, etc.)
Making you eat/fuel at EVERY opportunity
Ensuring kit you might need is available for clothing, shoe changes, weather changes, etc
Giving you a choice of foods to eat when you are sick of what you've been eating the last 12+ hours
Be in command in rest stops. That's your Graham's territory to own
Tell them what you need and when you're likely to need it ahead of time
Be flexible and adaptable
Look after themselves between stops (rest, food, keep warm, keep busy, etc)
Think of crewing like a formula 1 pit crew. Lots of organisation and preparation, and being ready to spring into action during the time the F1 car comes in to Pit. Ready to respond if plans change during the race. Ultras may be the slow-motion equivalent, but it requires high performance to crew one well. Your version of Graham needs to be both aware of, and up for, the task.
I'm privileged to have someone with such a commitment to my goal that weekend. I know I can be hard work... I can be opinionated, vocal, overly chatty, obsessive, a bit 'alpha' and so much more, but he took it all in his stride. Graham was someone who held me accountable, and spared my thinking on the day about what to carry in my pack and at what point. He worked the plan we had made together weeks before, beautifully. Even with the the curveball of an injury from the very start. Someone to keep a close eye on the pace and get me out of rest stops quickly to keep my pace consistent.
It was my honour to have him on this challenge with me, and it's with the deepest gratitude I write this with him in mind. I learned so much from him through this experience and he was with me in every single step. Believe me when I say you need a Graham in your life. I'm blessed to have him in mine... and although he doesn't like a fuss or the limelight, I hope he enjoys a moment in these words that he has so very much earned. Graham, I really am grateful for everything you've done. You're a rare human who gives the very best of yourself to support others. And, as I said after the event,...
"It's better to walk in the dark with a friend, than to walk alone in the light".
I could not have had a better person to be there with me in the dark during this challenge and on this journey. What you gave to me has inspired me to be better, and that is the impact you've made on me through this.
I'm gutted I can't get you out on the 300km, but you will be right there in spirit, and will definitely take your wisdom in my planning for the event.
Thank you for everything, buddy. I really mean that....
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